Messi to extend Barca stay

Madrid - Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi will sign a new contract on Thursday tying him to the Catalan club until 2018.

"Leo Messi will be the next player to sign a new contract following captains Carles Puyol and Xavi Hernandez," Barcelona said in an online statement.

"The striker will sign his new contract on Thursday that will tie him to Barcelona until June 30, 2018."

The club said in December the four-time World Player of the Year would extend his current deal, which runs until 2016, along with team-mates Xavi Hernandez and Carles Puyol who have already put pen to paper on their new contracts.

Messi has again been fundamental as Barca have built up a nine-point advantage at the top of the Spanish league.

The Argentine has scored 34 times in 22 league appearances this season and has found the net in each of his last 12 outings, breaking an all-time Spanish league record.

AFP

Comments

boet.magundana - 2013-02-05 16:12

Hasn't Messi achieved everything that can be achieved at La Liga, which isn't much of league after all. To further prove himself I suggest that he spends 3 seasons at Arsenal (who play a similar style to the La Liga) and if he shines there as much as he shines in Spain, then he would be a truly rounded player. On average in England a player scores 2 to 3 hat-tricks per season compared to the ridiculous 8 to 9 hat-tricks in Spain that Messi and Ronaldo enjoy. You draw your own conclusions about this.

avremel.niselow - 2013-02-05 18:12

Premfaced.

ashish.doodnath - 2013-02-05 20:55

I dnt understand y shud messi move to another league to prove how gud he is,an who said the premiership is da best league for me its over rated,an if he's happy y shud he move to make other ppl happy

Hansie.Crook - 2013-02-05 16:49

This is not news because its a known that Messi will always stay at Barca. He is happy and comfortable with the same challenge week in week out, season after season in the 2-team-race La Liga.
Come On Messi be a sport! Lets see what you can do in England, France or Italy under different playing systems...

Vishen - 2013-02-05 20:31

This is the reason why Ronaldo edges it for me.

keith.ngobeni - 2013-02-05 23:49

Do you watch the same la liga as me? If yes you need to go to specsavers mate because your eyes are due for the test! Even my 100yrs old grandmother can see that what messi is doing on the pitch it's unbelievable and from another planet!!!